From the Yan family patriarch down to the most ordinary of its junior members, every single person who heard that Shao Yuan had arrived at the Yan residence bearing the authority of the Holy Land felt a tangled storm of emotions.
It was the feeling of people who knew they were about to face judgment — Shao Yuan's judgment — at any moment.
Think back to the days when Shao Yuan had been among them, and there had been those who couldn't even be bothered to give him a second glance. Now, however, Shao Yuan had grown to a height that the Yan family could no longer hope to reach.
Naturally, the reception was as grand as grand could possibly be.
After all, the fate and survival of the Yan family could very well hinge on what happened today.
Before coming to the Yan family, Jiang Chen had in fact given the matter considerable thought. His visit was the product of careful deliberation. As for how to handle the Yan family, he had weighed every possibility with great seriousness before arriving at his decision.
Of course, given his current standing, when it came to facing the Yan family, the posture he struck had to be lofty — as lofty as could possibly be managed.
The Yan patriarch personally led several dozen senior members of the clan to stand outside the gates of the Yan estate, receiving Jiang Chen with the highest possible formality.
Jiang Chen, for his part, brought with him a large contingent of Eternal Sacred Land subordinates, creating an impressive display — an air of a hero returning home in glory.
Jiang Chen, however, took no pleasure in any of it. It was not for this that he had come to the Yan family.
"Young Master Shao Yuan graces us with his presence! Our Yan family is truly honored!"
"We respectfully welcome Young Master Shao Yuan!"
The Yan family members wore expressions of devout reverence, every face etched with dread and unease.
Within the Yan family, there were still quite a few individuals whose strength exceeded Jiang Chen's. Yet all of them — the patriarch included — stood before him now as docile as lambs.
Not one of them dared so much as twitch an eyebrow, for fear that Jiang Chen might misinterpret the gesture, or read it as hostility.
"What do you mean, 'Young Master Shao Yuan'? Our young master's true name is Jiang Chen! Shao Yuan is nothing more than an alias!" one of the Eternal Sacred Land subordinates barked loudly.
Clearly, these followers felt a deep sense of pride in walking alongside Jiang Chen.
After his breathtaking performance in the recent battle, Jiang Chen had already become an idol to many of the young generation at the Eternal Sacred Land. For these people to serve at his side was, naturally, a great honor.
Every member of the Yan family felt their heads buzzing as if struck by a gong.
Jiang Chen!
It really was Jiang Chen.
Elder Xi — Yan Wanxi — in particular felt the world spin around him, a wave of dizziness nearly sending him to the ground.
Every detail of that fateful visit to Peacock Sacred Mountain came flooding back to him in an instant.
Jiang Chen's expression was calm and indifferent, his gaze sweeping coldly over the assembled Yan family members. When it fell upon Yan Wanxi, who stood behind the patriarch, a faint, mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I never expected this — Elder Xi, we meet again so soon. You've risen quite fast, haven't you? You've actually taken over Elder Wanjun's position as Supreme Elder?"
Yan Wanxi's face went rigid, caught between a laugh and a grimace, able to do neither.
"Back when we parted ways in the Domain of Humans, your brand of arrogance left quite a deep impression on me," Jiang Chen continued, his tone placid, yet so laced with sarcasm that not a single person present could mistake it.
"If I remember correctly, you told me then that your Yan family was the heavens, and I, Jiang Chen, was the earth. That in your eyes, I was nothing more than an ant. Am I right?"
Yan Wanxi had no words to offer. Winner takes all, loser pays the price. When he had been dispatched to the Domain of Humans on that occasion, his attitude had indeed been outrageous — for he had truly not regarded anyone from that place as worth noticing.
"Do you remember what I told you back then?"
"I told you that one day, you would pay the price for your ignorance, and one day, you would regret your arrogance."
"I've waited all these years and come to Myriad Abyss Island — not to slap your face, Elder Xi, but to tell you this: Huang'er is my woman. You took her from me, and I will take her back from your hands."
"Whether it's Xiahou Zong, or you, Yan Wanxi, or anyone else under the sun — no one will take Huang'er from me. No one!"
Yan Wanxi's face was the color of ashes. That trip to the Domain of Humans had been partly an assignment from the Yan clan, but had it not also been an effort to curry favor with the Xiahou family?
The entire Yan family stood in deathly silence.
The Xiahou family had already been destroyed, and the matter of Huang'er had seen the Yan family play an utterly disgraceful role from beginning to end — and in the end, they had managed to offend everyone on both sides.
The Yan patriarch let out a long sigh. "Young Master Jiang Chen, our family has been foolish. The matter of Huang'er was not solely the fault of Yan Wanxi. As patriarch, I bear a great share of the responsibility."
"Let it go. As long as Huang'er herself does not hold a grudge, I have no interest in rehashing old grievances," Jiang Chen said lightly. "However, I have come this time to see what sincerity the Yan family can offer."
The Yan patriarch hurriedly spoke. "Our family has been through so much and has come to a deep realization that the only right path is to follow faithfully in the Holy Land's footsteps. From this day forward, we will follow the Holy Land with unwavering loyalty and contribute our strength to the Divine Kingdom."
Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively. "I have no interest in hearing speeches."
"I have only two matters to discuss. First — how does the Yan family intend to handle Huang'er's birth parents? Second — who it was that crippled Elder Shun. That person must be handed over to me to face Elder Shun's judgment."